California sunsets

Emanuel Berry, 12, plays in the Watts Towers Art Center Amphitheater as the sun sets on a warm February day.  (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Using a slow shutter speed, lights from cars are captured as they drive along Pacific Coast Highway near Point Mugu rock, right, after sunset.  (Bob Carey / Los Angeles Times)

Lines of cars travel north on the 405 Freeway as the sun makes its final appearance.  (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

The sun breaks through the clouds over Santa Cruz Island as seagulls take flight from Surfer’s Point in Ventura.  (Bryan Chan / Los Angeles Times)

A nod to sunset: A sunflower lends a bright spot to the evening sky as the sun sets over the Santa Susana Mountains near Porter Ranch.  (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Bubbles refract the sunset light in Santa Monica.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Sara Hutter and Daniele Schugg, both of Rossmoor, take a scenic ride at the aptly named Sunset Beach.  (Al Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Warm Santa Ana winds bring a ruby-colored sunset to the downtown Los Angeles skyline.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Alex Goutier, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga sails over a jump near Rubidoux in Riverside County.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Birds at Santa Monica Beach take flight toward a dramatic sunset.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)